<p><LINK href="notes.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"> <SPAN class="panel-title"> Gray Is The New Purple -- FogCon 2012</span> <span class="dateline">31.03.2012 10.30h</span></p>
<ul class="taglist">
<li class="tags">
Aging
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<li class="tags">
Literature
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<li class="tags">
Non-traditional protagonists
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</ul>
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<DIV class="intro">
&quot;Aging isn't for the weak of heart. What sf/f works deal with the topic of aging, either positively or negatively? Who gets it right and who should do some homework?&quot;
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<DIV class="panelists">
<ul>
<li>Madeleine Robins (Moderator)</li>
<li>Phyllis Holliday</li>
<li>Erin Hoffman
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</ul>
<h2 id="bibliography"><b>Bibliography</h2>
<DIV class="bibliography">
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Howls-Moving-Castle-Diana-Wynne/dp/0061478784/">Wynn-Jones, Diana. Howl's Castle</a></li>
<li>Wilhelm, Kate. Has lots of characters sliding into old age from middle age.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Falling-Woman-Pat-Murphy/dp/0312854064/">Murphy, Pat. The Falling Woman</a></li>
<li>Heinlein's Lazarus Long. But Heinlein wants to 'have his cake and eat it too', characters get advantages without the disadvantages (of ageing)</li>
<li>Bujold</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fables-Vol-Legends-Edition-Graphic/dp/140123755X/">Willingham, Bill. Fables</a> Frau Totenkinder character, represents witches in fairy tales</li>
<li>Moon, Elizabeth. A female colonial protagonist, published 2002 or before</li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281686/">Bubba Ho-Tep (movie)</a> many older characters, including an old black man who thinks he is JFK.
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<h2 id="notes"><b>Notes</b></h2>
<div class="notes">
<h1 id="ageing">Ageing</h1>
<p>MR: There's a need of more coming of older age (e.g., into middle age or elder age)</p>
<p>Let your characters buy into stereotypes and play with it.</p>
<p>There's an interplay of age and gender -- older males are the height of their power, and the reverse is true for females.</p>
<p>An ageing story would do well to have the ageing not be the <em>only</em> identity issue at play.</p>
<p>With immortality, people do not necessarily get any wiser with age in many stories.</p>
<p>But someone who lives a very long time will likely utterly change how they think.</p>
<p>Someone who is old for their category is compelling.</p>
<p>Break down the connection of appearence and behavior (no &quot;as without, so within&quot;).</p>
<p>Older characters are often portrayed as having thought through a lot.</p>
<p>Two sets of issues associated with ageing:</p>
<ul>
<li>An increase in experience</li>
<li>An awareness of mortality and physical ageing</li>
</ul>
<p>What does ageing mean? A redefinition of self over time.</p>
<p>Family obligations can often make for interesting tension for an adventuring/heroic character.</p>
<p>Perception of age is culture can characterize that culture -- and can be based on medicine / technology</p>
<p>What do editors think readers want? They are more accepting of older characters now.</p>
<p>What traits of ageing should we note, counter to stereotypes:</p>
<ul>
<li>That ageing characters can be adventurous</li>
<li>They are interested in the world about them</li>
<li>they can have a sense of quest</li>
</ul>
<p>Being upper class can isolate one from a wide range of people.</p>
<p>Quests can be thrust upon one (and often are)</p>
<p>There are (can be) quests that can only start later in life.</p>
<p>Carol Emshwiller was only able to start writing after her husband died.</p>
<p>Stories of people who were too afraid as youths to adventure but overcame their fear.</p>
<p>Social expectations change as one ages.</p>
<p>What callenges will be too much for older people but easy for younger? And vice-versa?</p>
<ul>
<li>They can get bolder</li>
<li>They can get more timid</li>
</ul>
<p>Patience can often come over time.</p>
<p>With increasing life expectancy, there's little room for the younger to rise.</p>
Readers often want to see self reflected in the books they read.
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